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Leaky Polar Bottles

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Old 10-25-11, 05:59 AM
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Leaky Polar Bottles

I've found that almost every Polar bottle I have leaks between the top and bottle itself - not a lot, but enough to be annoying because of getting Gatorade on my frame. I have frozen my bottles sometimes, and do wash them in the dishwasher - according to Polar it's supposed to be OK to do that. Has anyone else had this problem?
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Old 10-25-11, 06:39 AM
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All three of mine leak in the same place. Have to wash the powerade off my frame every ride.
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Old 10-25-11, 06:43 AM
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I've got 4 and haven't had that problem; 2 old style and 2 new with the wider top. Could you have cross-threaded them at some point?
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Old 10-25-11, 06:51 AM
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Both of mine leak.
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Old 10-25-11, 07:08 AM
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I don't have those bottles but have you tried to do the Teflon tape on threads fix to seal leaks in pipes or a rubber band trick?
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Old 10-25-11, 07:12 AM
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Two of my friends have had that problem.
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Old 10-25-11, 07:17 AM
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One of my older ones leaks a little bit, but the new one has been fine so far. Either way, they still leak a lot less than the other bottles I have.
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Old 10-25-11, 07:41 AM
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I have two of the bottles. One leaks only when it's placed on its side and the other one is fine. I can never remember which one is the leaky one.
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Old 10-25-11, 07:43 AM
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i had it happen too!!!! Then i tightened the lid some more...problem solved.
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Old 10-25-11, 08:07 AM
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don't put Gatorade in them
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Old 10-25-11, 08:14 AM
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This (and the easier squeeze) is why I switched to Camelbak Podium bottles.
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Old 10-25-11, 08:30 AM
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Originally Posted by DropDeadFred
i had it happen too!!!! Then i tightened the lid some more...problem solved.
Same here. If I don't put some effort into tightening them, they will leak.
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Old 10-25-11, 08:30 AM
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Could be the combination of extreme temperatures (freezer and dishwasher) that has caused the issue. I have a Polar and wash it by hand and no leaks (unless I turn it upside down). I also add ice cubes and do not put it in the freezer.
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Old 10-25-11, 08:34 AM
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I only ever put water in mine so I don't know if they leak or if it's just condensation, but whatever the case, my bike could use a good bath.
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Old 10-25-11, 08:35 AM
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I have about 8 of these bottles. 5-24oz and 3-20oz. They will leak if you do not tighten them properly. I will usually tighten them, dry bottle and cap with towel shake to see if liquid comes out and then tighten more.
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Old 10-25-11, 08:59 AM
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Originally Posted by X-LinkedRider
I have about 8 of these bottles. 5-24oz and 3-20oz. They will leak if you do not tighten them properly. I will usually tighten them, dry bottle and cap with towel shake to see if liquid comes out and then tighten more.
yeah I learned my lesson after the first few times I didnt REtighten them. thats all it is IMO.
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Old 10-25-11, 09:17 AM
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I think out of 6 of them all but one leak. I have tried tightening them as tight as I can - it helps some, but still get some leaking. I'm sure I've never cross-threaded them. The Teflon tape idea sounds interesting.
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Old 10-25-11, 09:20 AM
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youd have to use teflon tape every time...id deal with the leaking
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Old 10-25-11, 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by DropDeadFred
youd have to use teflon tape every time...id deal with the leaking
+1 Teflon tape is for parts that stay put together. Things link faucets, pipe fittings and so on.. For water bottles a rubber band or some kind of o-ring is a much more realistic approach.
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Old 10-25-11, 10:40 AM
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try tightening the bottle with the nipple open. it's tough to get them all the way tight due to the air pressure.

mine get tight before they're completely sealed, but once they're screwed on all the way, they don't leak
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Old 10-25-11, 11:08 AM
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Both of the Polar bottles I bought leaked, so I switched to free bottles from the LBS.
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Old 10-25-11, 11:11 AM
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I've never had a Polar bottle that didn't leak (old and new style). No matter what I tried they leaked. So, like many others I switched to the Camelback bottles and have never looked back.
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Old 10-25-11, 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by 03FinestAL
I've never had a Polar bottle that didn't leak (old and new style). No matter what I tried they leaked. So, like many others I switched to the Camelback bottles and have never looked back.
Some of my Polar bottles are old and some are new; I do try tightening them with the valve open but they still leak. Have others had good luck with the Camelbak bottles? If so I think I would switch.
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Old 10-25-11, 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by AllezDada
...Have others had good luck with the Camelbak bottles? If so I think I would switch.
Yeah. I love my camelback bottles. Camelback has mastered the bottle nipple.

I have never tried Polar because I don't have a good reason too. (And I've got even less of a reason to after reading this thread)
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Old 10-25-11, 12:32 PM
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I've never had a Camelbak bottle leak.
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